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The schoolgirl affray—culture in action

Well, it must be high-fives and thumbs-up all round in the Canboulay camp, in the wake of the girlfight video, which was shown on television. The satisfaction would be because exactly what they’ve been re-enacting and screaming to be “our culture,” which they want “taught in schools”, has been learned, and how.

Children fighting each other in the street, and fighting the policeman who tries to stop them. Can’t wait to see what they do when they grow up. (Incidentally, isn’t it illegal, or violates the media code of ethics, to show minors in news reports? But let that not detain us.)

As noted in the press reports, this incident is not anomalous. TTUTA president, Devanand Sinanan said similar problems abound in schools. (Search “Trini School Fights” on YouTube.) Dr Keith Rowley, PNM/Opposition Leader, described the affray as resembling “hyenas in the African jungle.” Thank God for camera phones, or the grassroots would brand it a plot against Africans, and blame Sat, and parasitic mamaguyers would hobble and slither out to brand the claim “racist,” or impugn the gentleman’s PhD. But I digress.

For those who don’t think this is “our culture,” however, it’s not a triumph, but no surprise either. Given the number of incidents you hear about (but see in the media only occasionally), it’s clear that the school system is a disaster area. Someone should show Trini School Fights to the Minister of Education, Dr Tim Gopeesingh, and hint to him this whole education business is more complicated than he suspects.